20 fun and free things to do in and around Milwaukee this fall

Claire Reid, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Updated ·10 min read

With temperatures now consistently in the 50s and 60s, fall is definitely in the air.

From festivals to free museum days to Halloween parties, here are 20 free, fun activities and events to enjoy this fall in Milwaukee and southeastern Wisconsin.

Sept. 19: Drag Queen Bingo at Lakefront Brewery

Adults are welcome to play Drag Queen Bingo at Lakefront Brewery, Inc., with drag queen Ester Flonaze on Tuesday, Sept. 19. Seating is first come, first served, but bingo is free to play.

Ten sets of three game cards will be provided for the 10 games that will be played. Prizes will be awarded for each game. Participants should bring their own writing utensils to mark their bingo cards. Food and drinks will be available for purchase.

Betty Brinn Children's Museum is located inside of this building seen Wednesday, May 24, 2023, in Milwaukee.
Betty Brinn Children's Museum is located inside of this building seen Wednesday, May 24, 2023, in Milwaukee.

Sept. 21, Oct. 19 and Nov. 16: Betty Brinn Children's Museum Community Access Days

Groups of 10 or smaller receive free admission to Milwaukee's Betty Brinn Children’s Museum every third Thursday of the month, including Sept. 21, Oct. 19 and Nov. 16. Walk-up tickets are not guaranteed, so it is recommended you reserve tickets online.

Families and children can enjoy hands-on exhibits at the museum such as a play railroad, science activities and a child-size model town with a play grocery store, ATM, car service center, construction site and more.

Sept. 22-24: Pleasant Prairie Harvest Fest

The Village of Pleasant Prairie, just outside of Kenosha, is holding its first, free Harvest Fest on Friday, Sept. 22-Sunday, Sept. 24 at the Lake Andrea Beer Garden.

The family-friendly event features three days of live music, a bounce house, face painting, balloon art, movies in the park and the Pleasant Prairie HarborMarket, with over 50 vendors. Beer, wine, craft cocktails and other beverages will be available for purchase, and a variety of food trucks will be on-site.

Leashed dogs and cats can attend Petfest on the Summerfest grounds and take part in activities.
Leashed dogs and cats can attend Petfest on the Summerfest grounds and take part in activities.

Sept. 23: Fromm Petfest

The 10th annual Fromm Petfest will take place Saturday, Sept. 23 at the Henry Maier Festival Park Summerfest grounds. Admission and parking are free.

The festival features a variety of pet-related activities for animal lovers and their pets all day long, including the Doggie Dash competition, a dog park, an agility course, a kids' zone and more. You must pay to participate in some activities. You can also meet adoptable dogs and cats, enjoy live entertainment like a magic show, MPD canines and improv, and listen to live music.

Sept. 23-24: Doors Open Milwaukee at the Haggerty Museum of Art

Art lovers are invited to experience Marquette University's Haggerty Museum of Art for free Saturday, Sept. 23 and Sunday, Sept. 24, when the museum participates in Doors Open Milwaukee.

You can view the museum's permanent collection, which features prints from the 15th century, Thai paintings, a variety of sculptures and more. Three new exhibitions feature some works from the permanent collection that haven't been shown before.

Sept. 30: Brooktoberfest 2023

Brookfield's third annual Brooktoberfest, inspired by German Oktoberfest, will celebrate with authentic polka music, dachshund races, a beer stein holding contest, face painting, kids' arts and crafts, and more. Admission is free.

A car show, a cornhole tournament (you have to pay to play) and a kids' inflatable zone will also be at the festival. Food and drink vendors will be on-site.

The Urban Ecology Center opened its first branch in Milwaukee's Riverside Park in 2004. The organization now has additional branches in Washington Park and the Menomonee Valley.
The Urban Ecology Center opened its first branch in Milwaukee's Riverside Park in 2004. The organization now has additional branches in Washington Park and the Menomonee Valley.

Sept. 30: Urban Ecology Center 'Take It Outside Day' biking

Come learn the basics of biking for free at the Menomonee Valley Urban Ecology Center. Participants will take part in educational activities, including trail etiquette trivia, a guided ride along the Hank Aaron State Trail and a Bubblr Bikes rental station demonstration.

The Urban Ecology Center will provide bikes and helmets for the activities. The bikes are designed to accommodate people 4ft 9in to 6ft 5in. Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

Runners leave the starting line of the Lakefront Marathon near Grafton High School on their way to a finish at Veterans Park on the Milwaukee lakefront.
Runners leave the starting line of the Lakefront Marathon near Grafton High School on their way to a finish at Veterans Park on the Milwaukee lakefront.

Oct. 1: Watch the Milwaukee Lakefront Marathon

Wisconsin's largest marathon returns to the streets of Milwaukee after a year off on Sunday, Oct. 1. This year's new course crosses the Hoan Bridge and follows along the shores of Lake Michigan.

Spectators can park for free in the Summerfest H and P lots, and food trucks will have refreshments available for purchase near the finish line. Spectators are welcome to watch the athletes from the spectator areas along the 26.2-mile course.

Vintage, custom, classic and modern vehicles of all types line Greenfield Ave. during the 28th annual Downtown West Allis Classic Car Show on Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018.
Vintage, custom, classic and modern vehicles of all types line Greenfield Ave. during the 28th annual Downtown West Allis Classic Car Show on Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018.

Oct. 1: Downtown West Allis Classic Car Show

Sunday, Oct. 1, the Downtown West Allis Classic Car Show will feature 450 classic and custom vehicles parading along Greenfield Ave., between 70th and 76th streets. Spectators can watch the show and park nearby along Greenfield Ave. for free.

Kids can participate in the annual Hot Wheel Race. Food and other items from vendors will be available for purchase at the show.

Oct. 5 and Nov. 2: Kohl's 'Thank You Thursday' at Milwaukee Public Museum

All visitors to the Milwaukee Public Museum, excluding groups, receive free admission to the Milwaukee Public Museum every first Thursday of the month, courtesy of Kohl's. It is recommended that you reserve your tickets online prior to visiting.

Thank You Thursdays visitors can access all permanent exhibits at the museum, including the "Streets of Old Milwaukee," the live tropical butterfly garden, dinosaurs and artifacts from cultures throughout the world.

Oct. 6-7: Fall Into Grafton

Downtown Grafton's "Fall Into Grafton" event is a free, family event with live music, a Pumpkin Derby, 18-hole miniature golf, pumpkin painting, crafts, entertainment and more that takes place Friday and Saturday Oct. 6-7. Beer and food will be available for purchase.

Milwaukee's Central Library has free tours.
Milwaukee's Central Library has free tours.

Oct. 7: Central Library’s 125th Anniversary Celebration

Milwaukee Public Library's Central Library opened in 1898 and is now preparing to celebrate its 125th anniversary. Celebrations on Saturday, Oct. 7 include a presentation on the building's history, educational activities for kids, a proclamation from the mayor, cookies and a tour of the library's Green Roof.

Central Library was designated an official Milwaukee landmark in 1969 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.

Choto, a 2-year-old snow leopard, has arrived at the Milwaukee County Zoo from North Dakota.
Choto, a 2-year-old snow leopard, has arrived at the Milwaukee County Zoo from North Dakota.

Oct. 7 and Nov. 4: Milwaukee County Zoo family free days

Families can visit the animals at the Milwaukee County Zoo for free Saturday, Oct. 7 and Saturday, Nov. 4 on Family Free Days sponsored by Tri City National Bank & FOX6. All guests receive free admission to the zoo on these days, though regular parking and attraction fees still apply.

Meet elephants, lions, giraffes, reptiles, primates and more! Coffee, ice cream, beverages and food are available for purchase throughout the zoo from a variety of vendors.

The Rev. Mike Hammer blessed pets October 6, 2013 at the Brady Steet Doggie Parade. For his lifetime of work in the Milwaukee neighborhood, Hammer earned the nickname "the bishop of the east side."
The Rev. Mike Hammer blessed pets October 6, 2013 at the Brady Steet Doggie Parade. For his lifetime of work in the Milwaukee neighborhood, Hammer earned the nickname "the bishop of the east side."

Oct. 8: Brady Street Pet Parade

Bring your pets down to Brady Street on Sunday, Oct. 8 for the pet parade, pet contests and the blessing of the pets. Dogs, cats, fish, snakes, raccoons, pigs, lizards and more are welcome!

Vendors and music will be at the event, which is presented by Lakefront Brewery. Most activities are free, but there is a cost to participate in the pet contests.

A Halloween display of carved pumpkins in downtown Delafield was covered in new fallen snow Oct. 31, 2019.
A Halloween display of carved pumpkins in downtown Delafield was covered in new fallen snow Oct. 31, 2019.

Oct. 21: Halloween in Delafield

Carved pumpkins from a number of area elementary and preschools will illuminate downtown Delafield at dusk on Saturday, Oct. 21. Families can also trick-or-treat at downtown businesses, enjoy live music from a DJ and watch a dance performance.

Oct. 28: Latino Family Expo and Festival

St. Augustine Preparatory School's Latino Family Expo and Festival on Saturday, Oct. 28 is free and open to the public. The 12th annual event features indoor trick-or-treating, a kids' piñata party, a homebuying workshop, immigration education, cultural exhibits and live entertainment.

The festival will also hold a health, education and job fair. The event is organized by El Conquistador Latino Newspaper.

Oct. 28: Oconomowoc Halloween parade

Kids in costume travel through the streets of downtown collecting candy at Downtown Oconomowoc's Halloween parade, sponsored by the Oconomowoc Lions Club, Saturday afternoon and evening, Oct. 28. After the parade, families can enjoy a free dinner before more trick-or-treating.

Events include Business Trick-or-Treat from 2 p.m. - 4 p.m., the parade at 4 p.m. and Residential Trick-or-Treat from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Nov. 6: Jewish Museum Milwaukee Community Free Day

Jewish Museum Milwaukee is hosting a community free day for all Milwaukee County residents on Monday, Nov. 6.

Museum visitors can experience the "Women Pulling at the Threads of Social Discourse" exhibit. This exhibit features textile work from female artists, exploring social and political issues "like the right to vote, reproductive rights, and the intersection of femininity, race, history and feminist socio-politics."

Nov. 11: Germantown Christmas Festival

Kick off the holiday season at the Germantown Christmas Festival in Firemen's Park, Saturday, Nov. 11. The day starts with 5K Candy Cane Run/Walk and the kids' Jingle Bell Dash, followed by the Christmas Festival Parade and Christmas in the Park. Families can enjoy hot chocolate and cookies, the Candy Land Adventure, a visit with Santa and more.

The Wauwatosa Public Library is located at 7635 W. North Ave.
The Wauwatosa Public Library is located at 7635 W. North Ave.

Nov. 16 and 30: Indoor Community Yoga class

Yoga instructor Caitlin Moyer will offer free, indoor yoga classes at the Wauwatosa Public Library this fall and winter most Thursdays through April, including Nov. 16 and 30. The beginner-level class is a "relaxing 45-minute yoga flow," in the library's Firefly Room. You should bring your own mat, towel and water bottle.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: 20 Milwaukee area fun fall activities for free